HPE honored by Thomson Reuters Foundation, Ethisphere Institute for commitment to ethics
MARCH 9, 2021 • BLOG POST • JOHN SCHULTZ, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
IN THIS ARTICLE
- HPE has been honored for a second time with the Thomson Reuters Foundation Stop Slavery Award for its efforts to combat forced labor and human trafficking
- The Ethisphere Institute has also, for the third year in a row, named HPE as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for its 360 degree approach to ethical business practices
Ethical business practices are a force for good, drive business value
HPE has, for the second time, been honored with the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Stop Slavery Award. Launched in 2016, the Stop Slavery Award recognizes companies for their efforts to fight slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains.
This award is a particular point of pride for me, because it embodies HPE’s commitment to winning the right way and the priority we place on the wellbeing not just of our team members, but everyone who contributes to the creation of our products and services.
Ethical sourcing is challenging for industries like ours, as raw materials and components very often must be sourced from parts of the developing world where the human rights environment is difficult. It takes constant vigilance and diligent engagement with suppliers to ensure we know not only who we are doing business with, but who they are doing business with, and that our ethical and human rights expectations are upheld.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation highlighted three key aspects of our program. First, our transparency about the issues that we face and how we are trying to address them. Second, our sustained and long-term commitment to fighting all forms of slavery and forced labor by improving our risk detection capacity internally and throughout our supply chain. Thirdly, our focus on ensuring that this commitment carries across our value chain and into areas such as the responsible sourcing of minerals. These are all hallmarks of our program, and I am tremendously proud that the Thomson Reuters Foundation has recognized them in honoring us with this award.
Sourcing is just one facet of HPE’s deep cultural commitment to ethical business practices, however. Ethical business practices must be ingrained in every facet of a company’s operations and its relationships with its employees, customers, and communities. That’s why we’re also delighted that, for the third year in a row, HPE has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute. Ethisphere evaluates companies based on a 360 degree view of their commitment to upholding ethical practices: compliance, culture, citizenship, governance, and leadership and reputation.
Accolades and awards are always a welcome and valuable measure of our success in living our values, but they’re not why we put so much energy into being an ethical corporate citizen. Doing the right thing, for the right reasons, drives business value and helps us recruit and retain top talent and innovators. In business, as in life, you are judged by the company you keep.